Douglas D. Wheat made a peaceful transition from this life to the next on July 9, 2025, while surrounded by family and friends. Born in 1950 to Mary and Carrol Wheat, Doug loved to describe himself as “just a poor kid from Liberal, Kansas.” Although that moniker might accurately depict his roots, it doesn’t begin to capture the giant of a man he became. He graduated from Liberal High School in 1968 and drove directly to Lawrence where he developed his life-long love affair with the Jayhawks and the University of Kansas. He acquired his undergraduate and law degrees in record time, as he simply couldn’t wait to get on with the business of life. The day after graduating from KU Law, Doug borrowed $20 from his twin sister Debbie to cover the cost of his road trip to Dallas where he was to begin his work as a corporate and securities lawyer with Rain, Harrell, Emory, Young and Doke. “The rest,” Deb says with a smile, “is history.”
Doug left a lucrative securities law practice after ten years and thrust himself into the world of investment banking at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, taking the firm by storm as a founding member of its merchant banking group. Having successfully navigated numerous notable leveraged buyout financings, including that of DrPepper/SevenUp, DLJ inducted him into its Hall of Fame, an honor and accomplishment of which Doug was most proud.
Never one to rest on his laurels, Doug transitioned from the large corporate investment environment to boutique private equity firms including Haas, Wheat and Partners and the Southlake Equity Group. His private equity experience introduced him to his true calling of public board leadership and mentorship. His public board experience was both extensive and varied. He served as the Chairman of AMN Healthcare for over 25 years before being named Chairman Emeritus in April 2025; Chairman of Playtex Products Inc. from 2004 to 2007 when the company was acquired; Chairman of International Seaways from 2016 to 2025; and Chairman of Overseas Shipholding Group from 2014 to its 2024 acquisition. His deal sense was second to none, as was his ability to inspire the best in those around him by always giving the best of himself. Without exception, Doug made a meaningful difference in the lives of those with whom he worked and the companies for which he served.
Throughout his long and storied career, Doug never declined an opportunity to mentor. Corporate CEOs, mid-level managers, graduate students or friends of his high school aged kids regularly sought his guidance. There were few things in life that he enjoyed more, and he ended every meeting in the same way, challenging those before him to pay it forward when their time came. Intuitively he knew that he could leave no greater legacy.
For a man who loved making money, it is striking that he loved giving it away even more. Throughout the course of his career he made life changing gifts to numerous worthy causes. The Douglas D. and Laura L. Wheat Law Library at the University of Kansas School of Law was a particular point of pride, as it was his way of giving back to an institution that had given so much to him.
For the past 37 years, Doug has been married to his beloved Laura Lynn. Together, they have raised four children who found in their father steadfast love and a never ending source of wisdom. Doug and Laura consistently adhered to the motto that a good marriage should be a duet - when one sings, the other claps. As much as Doug loved being the singer, he equally savored the opportunities to clap, which he did with gusto. Throughout the last 10 years of their life together, Doug was put to the test with advanced metastatic prostate cancer and other health issues that would have caused most men to falter. Doug consistently met head on each challenge, and through the sheer force of will outlived the predictions of every health professional. Although he ultimately found himself without bullets, he unquestionably emerged as the winner in the battle: he lived each day to the fullest, traveling to the far reaches of the globe, enjoying countless late night dinners with family and friends, spending time at his treasured Nantucket home, and giving each and every moment everything he had.
Doug is survived by his wife, Laura; their four children, Adam Boyer Wheat, Mary Cassandra Uptmore, Kyler Douglas Wheat, and Tanner Nivin Wheat; two grandchildren, Landon Bauer Uptmore, Alexander Douglas Uptmore, and their father, Bradley Austin Uptmore. He is also survived by twin sister Deborah Wheat Sinclair; brother Carrol Wheat; and an extended circle of family and friends.
A Celebration of Doug’s life will be held in the Grace Chapel at White’s Chapel Methodist Church, 185 White Chapel Boulevard, Southlake, Texas at 11:00 a.m., Friday, July 25th, 2025. A reception will be held, immediately following the service, at the Las Colinas Country Club, 4400 North O’Connor Road, Irving, Texas. In classic Doug Wheat style, jeans are perfectly acceptable.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Gladney Center for Adoption (IAMGladney.org) or The Dreamland Foundation (nantucketdreamland.org).